SpeakerTalk

ColinR · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:10 am Post subject: Dalesford, RAM and WARS

Guess what folks?

These manufacturers never routinely used KEF drive units, unfortunately this is what several ePay pimps would have you believe.
Dalesford and Audax drivers were used.

Exceptions? The RAM LS3/5a and a Dalesford "spoiler" version of the KEF Chorale in a much nicer box.

There is no Web based information about Dalesford. You have to talk to old radio hams that actually worked there.

One Antipodian site has some information on RAM speakers. A Google search isn't much use btw, so you have to use something a little more sophisticated to find the page on http://www.eastmarinedrive.com/ - nice site Howard if you ever read this Shocked

.

I've mentioned WARS, because I had a cup of tea with some of their exhibition team (plus Raymond Cooke and Bob Stuart) once.

proffski · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: Dalesford, RAM and WARS

I have the full specifications for all the Dalesford drivers made if anybody is is interested.
Also a Dalesford construction booklet, now that IS interesting...

Speakers like the Dalesford DS4 were abysmal.

A long time ago I bough a batch, again contrary to what some folk may claim about them on Ebay they are VERY inferior to the KEF look alike equivalents!!!

A local firm WAR (Western Audio Research) used in the main Dalesford units back in and around 1976.
Some were interesting, ones copying? Designs using D200 (B200) were not too bad, but models like the HD 7575 unmodified were somewhat lacking. Build quality was nowhere near as good as even the cheapest KEFs.
12" Bextrene for bass, a B110 copy for mid and an Isophon tweeter.
I still have a pair looking for a home and some empty cabinets.

There is no substitute for real KEF drivers!!!

Gary · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Dalesford, RAM and WARS

ColinR · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:29 am Post subject:

proffski · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject:

The item in question is "The Dalesford Speaker Book" by R.F.C.Stephens.
Sadly no TL designs, Reflex, IB, and copies of LS35a and the JRs.

Bought in a charity shop for £0.30! Smile

proffski · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:53 pm Post subject:

I am about to input the Dalesford data into a nice simple Word document for easy emailing. Complete copies of the Dalesford sheet can be sent via snail mail.

The largest bass driver they made was 12” their tweeter looks like an Isophon.

Speakers were as follows:

D300 12"
D100 / D250 10"
D100 / 200 8"
D50 / D200 8"
D153 6"
D30 / 110 5"
D10 Tweeter

Only the 12" & 10" are deemed suitable for TLs.

Although possibly using similar materials for the cones as KEF units all mine to some degree exhibited a tendency for the damping layer to detach itself from the Bextrene. On the larger cones the surround tends to come away from the cone. The latter can be fixed with judicious use of super glue!

proffski · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:57 pm Post subject:

The Dalesford sheet shows all units as having a round chassis, with all the relevant dimensions, yet the book shows only the two larger drivers as being round.

The rest are the shape we associate with KEFs B200 & B110.

Were there different production runs? The parameters seem to be the same...

proffski · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

Phew! I now have the Dalesford Thiele-Small parameters ready to email if anybody out there is at all interested... Shocked

terry · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:24 pm Post subject:

Proffski
If you think it would be helpful I could publish your info on this site. I also have a couple of Dalesford drive units - in the loft. Is it copyright free?
Terry

proffski · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

No problem Terry, I have only just sent Colin an updated and corrected electronic version.
If you would like it sent to your email addres drop me a line via the private posting bit.
I'm also more than happy to send FOC a photocopy with the drawings for the units sizes etc if you so wish.
I also have the constructors book with C/Os, cabinets etc...

Andy.

terry · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks Andy
I have received your helpful emails. Perhaps the best way forward, if you are willing, is for you to decide what should be published and if you could structure the information so that I can then put it on the website as you would like. Really 'anything Dalesford' as so little is available out there for anyone to access.
Terry

proffski · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject:

Terry, I am no expert here at all.
I'll leave the ball in your court as you seem to have had a lot more experience in these matters! Publish!

Nordic · Introductory Contributor Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

I desperately need to get as much details as you can provide on the Dalesford D10 tweeter... as my QLN's need replacement, and thats the only way I'm likely to get a "similar" replacement...

Hope you can still help out

proffski · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject:

The tweeter is an Isophon KK10/8.
Colin I think is an expert on the origins of these, I think that his input is on these pages somewhere.

Nominal Diameter 90mm
Coil Layers 2
Pole Diameter 25.4mm
Sensetivity at 7KHz 90dB spl
Upper Frequency 20KHz
fsa 1.5KHz
SD Piston Area 5 X 10-4 m2
RE Voice Coil Resistance 6.5 Ohms
Magnet 13K Gauss
Weight 0.4 kgs
Reliability: Any remaining samples are of a nervous disposition! Confused

Power Rating 10W

Please note that these figures are for the KK10/8 NOT the KK10/4!

There are some on sale here: But Expensive!:http://www.cadaudio.dk/other_hifiunits.htm

proffski · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject:

Terry, have I sent you enough information for the Dalesford bit?
Would there be room for the Dalesford DIY manual?